MarDon Fresh News – February 23, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – February 23, 2018

The current water level on the Potholes reservoir is 1044.05 feet, slightly up from last week. The water temperature has dropped to the mid-30’s with this current round of cold and windy weather.

Nothing to report on the fishing front this week. Between the subfreezing temperatures, wind, and wind chill – not many anglers have been out on the water. The Snow Geese are still here - and a neat sight to see!

Spring is around the corner – even though it may not feel that way! Soon our weather will warm, and the Walleye will be biting, followed by the smallmouth and then the largemouth will turn on. In 2017 we had largemouth weighing up to 8.3 pounds weighed in at the Northwest Bass Tournament and bass fisherman, Russ Anderson, caught a 9.0-pound largemouth bass of the MarDon Resort dock! The crappie and bluegill fishing was outstanding. 2018 is shaping up to be a tremendous year for fishing on the Potholes Reservoir! The combination of the successful effort by all to convince the WDFW to retain the correct limits on panfish, CWFAC’s fish habitat restoration project and correct water level management will all contribute to an amazing fishery in 2018!

Now is a great time to come visit MarDon Resort and the Reservoir. We are still on our Winter Rate schedule – making your stay very economical. We will also be running a Spring Break Special March 23^rd thru April 15^th. Stay 2 nights get the 3^rd night free! Call 509-346-2651 for reservations.

Call the MarDon Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

A large raft of Snow Geese on the Potholes Reservoir! Photo by Mike Meseberg

Snow Geese taking flight on the Potholes Reservoir! Photo by Kelly Brown

The wind and cold temperatures make for some interesting ice sculptures along the shores of the Potholes Reservoir! Photo by Pete Fisher

MarDon FreshNews - February 16, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – February 16, 2018

The current water level on the Potholes reservoir is 1043.67 feet, slightly up from last week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the upper 30’s. The Reservoir and Seep Lakes are ice free. The forecast for warmer weather did not materialize – winter weather is hanging on for the next several weeks.

 No reports this week on walleye. Anglers continue to do well on trout back in the Seep Lakes and on the Reservoir itself. The top Seep Lakes this past week have been Upper Goose Lake and Long Lake, and Janet. Anglers are using Power Bait, Glitter Marshmallows, and nightcrawlers on the bottom. Trout Magnets have been working on the Reservoir.

We have had several thousand Snow Geese show up on the Potholes Reservoir. It is quite a sight to see - they look like a big sheet of white or a white sand island! If you are into bird watching – this is a great opportunity.

Now is a great time to come visit MarDon Resort and the Reservoir. We are still on our Winter Rate schedule – making your stay very economical. We will also be running a Spring Break Special March 23^rd thru April 15^th. Stay 2 nights get the 3^rd night free! Call 509-346-2651 for reservations.

Call the MarDon Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Tom Pollack with a nice Seep Lakes Rainbow Trout!

Gary Thompson caught this beautiful 24" Potholes Reservoir Rainbow Trout on a

marshmallow and night crawler!

MarDon FreshNews February 9, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – February 9, 2018

The current water level on the Potholes reservoir is 1043.40 feet, holding steady over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is in the low 40’s. The Reservoir and Seep Lakes are ice free! The forecast for the next several weeks is calling for highs in the mid 40’s to mid-50’s. The rising temperatures will get the fish moving!

Anglers continue to do well on trout back in the Seep Lakes and on the Reservoir itself. Dock fishing is picking up for trout as well. The top Seep Lakes this past week have been Upper Goose Lake and Long Lake, and Janet. Anglers are using Power Bait, Glitter Marshmallows, and nightcrawlers on the bottom. Trout Magnets have been working on the Reservoir.

Now is a great time to come visit MarDon Resort and the Reservoir. We are still on our Winter Rate schedule – making your stay very economical. We will also be running a Spring Break Special March 23^rd thru April 15^th. Stay 2 nights get the 3^rd night free! Call 509-346-2651 for reservations.

Call the MarDon Store for the latest hunting and fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Geri Quillin of MarDon Resort with a nice trout caught off the MarDon dock. Geri and her sister Joni Nye, have been fishing the dock for many years and always seem to catch something!

MarDon FreshNews Feb.2, 2018

MarDon Fresh News – February 2, 2018

The current water level on the Potholes reservoir is 1043.40feet, rising almost four inches over the past week. The water temperature on the main lake is 37-39 degrees. The Reservoir is 95% ice free. The main lake and Lind Coulee are ice free and the sand dunes do have some soft ice covering the back areas. The forecast for the next several weeks is calling for highs in the low to mid-50’s. The rising temperatures will have a positive impact on the fishing!

 We have had several reports of anglers doing well on trout back in the Seep Lakes both from shore and by boat. The top lakes this past week have been Upper Goose Lake and Long Lake, as well as some of the smaller lake. Anglers are using Power Bait, Marshmallows, and nightcrawlers on the bottom. Levi Rodelo and Sam Smith were fishing the Reservoir when they marked the fish on their sonar in 55 feet of water. They dropped blade baits down thinking they might be walleye – and ended up catching six Channel Catfish weighing between 5 and 10 pounds each!

Call the MarDon Store for the latest hunting and fishing info at 509-346-2651.

We are very excited to announce the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has voted to retain the current limits on perch, crappie, and bluegill on the Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake and Banks Lake! This decision will help to ensure outstanding panfish fishing as well as excellent bass and walleye fishing for years to come. The combination of the current limits, water level management and the habitat restoration efforts of the Central Washington Fish Advisory Committee are working in concert to produce amazing fishing in the Potholes Reservoir.

We would like to thank Mike and Marilyn Meseberg and Pete Fisher of MarDon Resort, Ron Sawyer of Cascade Marine, Russ Baker of Limit Out Marine and most of all -  all the folks who got involved by testifying before the commission and those who voiced their opinion on the WDFW website. This was a tremendous effort and a great success for families, sportsmen and sportswomen that fish this wonderful region.

We would also like to thank all WDFW Commissioners, Regional Fisheries Managers and all other WDFW personnel involved for actively listening to and allowing the fishing community to voice our concerns.  

Levi Rodelo and Sam Smith with an impressive surprise catch of Channel Catfish caught in 55 feet of water using Blade Baits on the Potholes Reservoir!

Sam Smith shows a 10 pound Channel Catfish - one of six he and Levi Rodelo caught on January 31st, 2018!

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